Carvings in a cave

Shell Game of Souls

At the bottom of a sinkhole is a limestone cave. A moldering skeleton slumps against one wall, showing signs of having been hanged. Yet carved into the cave walls are runes, caked over with mineral deposits.

To unlock it, you must:

• carefully restore the runes over a few weeks of work;
• risk ruining them as you work;
• decipher the old writings, which are similar to Stone Lord runes;
• then spend a few days of study.

Shell Game of Souls

Souls (max ½ level, rounded up): ☐ ☐

When you touch a dying, intelligent being, speaking their name and words of binding, roll.

• On a success with a 6, you bind their soul to your flesh.
• On a success with no six, you bind their soul, but weaken yours — reduce your max HP by 1d4+1.

Your flesh can bind a number of souls equal to your capacity (½ level, rounded up). They manifest in dreams and struggle for control when your mind or body are weak. Write their names here:

When you bust on Death's Door, you can release a bound soul to go through the Last Door in your place. If you do, you survive as if you'd gotten a success with no six. Your body, though, still bears the marks of that which would have killed you.